Dhan Lakshmi, or Dhanalakshmi, is one of the manifestations of Goddess Lakshmi and in this form she symbolizes material wealth. Although Goddess Lakshmi has numerous other attributes and symbolisms but this is most popular form of Goddess Lakshmi for majority of people in today’s world. The story of Dhana Lakshmi and the power of material wealth is closely associated with the story of Goddess Padmavati and Lord Balaji (Venkateswara). Legend has it that once Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Vishnu had some quarrel and in anger Goddess Lakshmi left Vaikunta and came and resided on earth as Goddess Padmavati. Soon Lord Vishnu came in search of her and resided on earth as a forest dweller. Goddess Padmavati was now the daughter of a rich king. Soon Vishnu and Goddess Padmavati met. He wanted to marry her but a poor forest dweller did not have the wealth to make the daughter of a king his wife. Finally, it is said that Lord Vishnu took loan from Kubera, the treasurer of Gods. Kube

The fourth day after new moon and fourth day after full moon in the Hindu calendar is observed as Chaturthi and is dedicated to Lord Ganesha. Most people must be aware of only the Ganesh Chaturthi festival that takes place in the month of Bhadrapada (August-September). But there are two Chaturthis in a month – Sankashti and Vinayaki – and staunch Ganesha devotees observe a fast on the Chaturthi after full moon and this is considered very important. The monthly Chaturthi day which falls after full moon in which a fast (fasting) is observed is known as Sankashti Chaturthi. The fast ends on the day after moonrise. Special Ganesh pujas are done in the evening. The monthly Chaturthi after Amavasya or new moon is known as Vinayaki Chaturthi. When Sankashti Chaturthi falls on Tuesday, it is known as Angarki Chaturthi and it is considered highly auspicious. The benefits of Chaturthi fasting include material progress, happiness and fulfillment of desires. The import

Palakapya is the author of well known Ayurveda text which deals with the health of elephants. Legend has it that Sage Palakapya was the son of Sage Samagayana and a female elephant, which had accidently drunk the sage’s urine containing his semen. He is believed to be an incarnation of Dhanvantari and lived on the banks of Brahmaputra River. Hastyayurveda Text is a comprehensive work on elephant medicine. The text is partly in prose and partly in verse. It is in the form of a dialogue between the Asga King Romapada and Palakapya. This text extensively deals with the characteristics of elephants, their life span, diseases and their management. The diseases are classified and their management described in a similar order as that of humans, as described in classics such as Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita. Panchakarma procedures (five purificatory methods) as well as rasayana (rejuvenative) techniques for elephants are described in detail in this text. The text also describes the